"Ballers" Set to Film in Florida

Florida, after playing host to Dwayne Johnson in Pain and Gain, is about to get a second visit from the star for his shoot on the new television series Ballers.

The show, which follows a group of football players and the people in their lives, has secured incentive support that will allow it to commence shooting in Florida this November. An article in The Location Guide covered the challenges Florida has faced in bringing in film and television productions due to its fund tapping out a few years ago.

Georgia and Louisiana have served as major competition for Florida, so having the show film there is a huge success and offers hope for Florida’s future as a filming location. “Fortunately, Ballers was able to secure incentive funds that had been earmarked for shows that ended,” said Sandy Lighterman, Miami-Dade County Film Commissioner, to Miami Today. “If that had not been the case, the show likely would have gone to a state like Georgia or Louisiana, which has a reliable and attractive incentive program.”

Florida has had some recent triumphs, such as the Dolphin Tale hosted by the Petersburg-Clearwater Film Commission. Tony Armer, head of the commission, reported to The Location Guide that since the filming incentive at a state level isn’t working, the commission is now focusing on more local incentives. Although nearly 300 million was set aside in 2010 to cushion the fund, the money, which was set to last 6 years, has been fully distributed. Yearly campaigns have aimed to increase the fund, but it was again denied this past May. (The Location Guide)